MEMORIES

    Going down the memory lane, and thinking about my childhood and the books that I read, gives me warm and fuzzy feelings. It reminds me of the times when I would sit with my mom, read books and share with her my impressions of the books. It is that nostalgic feeling that engulfs me every time I pick up a book to read. 

      I am from India, and so the books associated with my childhood were a fusion of books from the west and from India. While growing up I was not exposed to a great number of books, and my choices were limited. It had nothing to do with the availability of books in India, and everything to do with the job that my dad held. My dad was part of the Indian army, and he was deployed in some of the toughest regions in India. When living in such places, your selection is pretty limited. The school library was my only source, and the fare of books at the library was not that great, but I lapped up everything that I could find. The books that I read ranged from classic novels, to popular young fiction, to books about Indian leaders who helped shape my native land. The first book that I remember reading was called Letters from a Father to his Daughter. This book is a collection of letters written by the first Prime Minister of India to his daughter. This collection covers a wide array of topics covering different subjects. The other book that I associate with my growing years is called Malgudi Days. It’s a collection of short stories depicting the life of ordinary people living in an imaginary town (Malgudi) in India. What I remember most about reading this book was the humor that it brought to everyday mundane life. (I would love to go back and revisit these books, as my memories of the exact content of these books have diminished).I also have fond memories of reading a comic book series called Amar Chitra Katha with my brother. The colorful pictures and simple language attracted us to this series of books. Then there were books like The Jungle Book (only the stories involving Mowgli), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Oliver Twist and also teen mystery books like Nancy Drew. I loved reading the Nancy Drew series of books because it connected me to my friends. I also remember reading books like Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights (in my adolescent years) and being fascinated by the characters portrayed in these novels.

   For a girl living in India, books were a means of understanding new ideas and exploring the world outside the threshold of my home. Books not only took me to places that I could only dream of, but they also helped me broaden my imaginative horizon. The books set in India helped me understand and appreciate my culture and my roots, whereas the books outside the boundaries of my country offered me a glimpse into a world that was different than what I was accustomed to. Reading books over the years have reinforced my belief that we all may look different and may have different perspectives, but we all are connected through our common shared human experiences.

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